Forget Trophies, Let Kids Know O. K. To Lose Analysis

Ashley Merryman, co-author of “Nature Shock,” (NY Times, Oct. 6, 2016) in “Forget Trophies, Let Kids Know It’s O.K. to Lose” argues that there is nothing wrong with losing because failure can actually be a good thing. I passionately agree with this. Marryman starts by stating the negative outcomes if children obtain trophies for their efforts and not for their victories. She believes it is a “destructive message” because defeats are essential for children’s futures. She claims that the main way to succeed is to acknowledge their mistakes. She argues that it is necessary for kids to be perfectly fine with losing and cites evidence from a study of Gold Medal Olympians to support her argument. Merryman also realizes that children need to pay

For example, my sister tried out for the school’s volleyball team this past September. She did not make it into the “A” Team because she wasn’t as good but that didn’t stop her. She played for the “B” Team and became a better player. Her progress was extraordinary. She did not care whether she won or lost the game. After games, she would go out and eat with her friends, and I could tell she was enjoying the moment. That is what life is about. People should not live for results. It’s about the process in which they get there. Imagine trying to lose weight. Many seek to shed those extra pounds for the typical reasons: obtaining the “ideal” body, looking good enough to attract others, or even as a purpose to boost their confidence. These reasons are results, and it should not be this way. Losing weight is about the journey and development. People should take it step by step. It’s not about how they’ll look at the end. It’s about how to properly eat and exercise, the progress of their health and what they learned because the reward does not compare to the process. Arthur Ashe, a professional baseball player, once said, “Success is a journey, not a